Professionals + coaches + club bosses |
This is how Cologne reacts to the scandal scenes
Shock at 1. FC Köln after the actually so pleasing 1-1 in the Conference League at group favorites OGC Nice. The bad beating scenes and violent outbursts of the hooligans overshadowed everything in the end.
Cologne boss announces consequences
Before the game, around 50 violent maniacs ran masked out of the guest block into the Nice area and had the worst riots there with the OGC hools (BILD.de reported). The game could only start 55 minutes late and was about to be canceled beforehand. And in the end, both clubs have to reckon with severe penalties from Uefa.
Cologne reacted shocked and with a hard edge. President Werner Wolf (66): “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the despicable events that took place on both sides in the run-up to today’s game in Nice. We will therefore do everything we can to investigate these incidents and take vigorous action against the perpetrators. We have an obligation to our many thousands of peaceful fans and to football.”
Sports boss Christian Keller (43) also announced that he wanted to take tough action against the chaotic and thugs: “Everything was prepared for a really good football game. What followed was a disaster and really pissed me off. For everyone we identify, regardless of who is at fault, we will ensure that they do not come to an FC game in a stadium again.”
Bengalos and heavy barrier pylons flew
The violent scenes, in which a hooligan even fell off the stadium parapet and had to go to the hospital with serious injuries, also affected the professionals and assistant coach Andre Pawlak (51), who stood on the line for the suspended Baumgart.
“I’m lost for words. I’ve never experienced anything like it in Cologne and I never want to experience it either. We told the team to play for themselves and for the many thousands of peaceful fans,” says Pawlak. After what he had experienced, Baumgart preferred not to speak at all. “Parts of it happened right in front of him,” explains Keller.
Keeper Marvin Schwäbe (27): “We goalkeepers were already on the lawn and noticed it on the sidelines. Actually, these people shouldn’t be given a stage at all. But you have to clearly distance yourself from them – they have no place in the stadium.”
And Cologne goal scorer Steffen Tigges (24) says: “It has nothing to do with football. But these chaotic people don’t stand for FC.”
They bring the club but in bad trouble. Because Cologne has been known internationally since the incidents in London in 2017 and must expect a tough Uefa penalty – probably even future ghost games. “We’re on probation,” says Keller and knows: “If you’ve been conspicuous, you remember it.”
Before European game in Nice Bad rampage of the Cologne Ultras
08.09.2022
